Multiple-way valve



Sept. 15, 1936. P. VAN srr'rER-r MULTIPLE-WAY VALVE Filed Oct. l2(27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ya fu 2 w 2 wl \37 A@ 4 J 4 4, S m0 4 7M rxr. a l# \U/\// f LM 4 a WIM Z 2 .5 2 6 5 Z uw 3 4/ INVENTQR y/ ATTORNEY Sept. 1 5, 1936. P. VAN slTTERT MULTIPLE-WAY VALVE Filed oct. 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 af A las

as 4/ 42 S7 J6 j PA az. AfA/v `s/fif/ Lg INVENTOR /2 ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1936. p VAN SW1-ERT 2,054,346

MULTIPLE-WAY VALVE Filed Oct. 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IATTORNEY i Patented Sept., 15, 1936-A I Y l r I u IUlsuTl-:D STATES PATENT lori-ICE MULTIPLE-WAY VALVE Paul Van Sittert, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to The Cleveland `Pneumatic vTool Company, Cleveland Ohio, a corporation oi' Ohio Application October 26, 1934, Serial No. 750,114

10 Claims. (Cl. 277-1). y

This invention relates broadly to valves, b'u-t admitting or exhausting pressure fluid to or from more particularly to an improvement in multiplethe valve as will be explained. hereinafter. way valves.y Located within the upper portion of the hous- One object of this invention is to produce a ing I5, there are four identical valve chambers multiple-way valve of'simple design and economic 2I, 22, 23, and 24 each having a screw threaded 5 of manufacture wherein the movable parts thereport 25 leading to the exterior of the housing and of are accessible without necessitating the disconadapted to receive a plug 26. Leading from each f nection of the many conduits -attached to the 'of the above mentioned chambers into individual valve housing or casing, thus facilitating the inchambers 21, 28, 29, and 30 formed within the spection or service of these parts and thereby rehousing I5, there is a relatively large port 3l. The 10 ducing the cost of maintenance. bottom of each of Vthe valve chambers adjacent Another Iobject of this invention is to produce a the port 3| opening therein is properly machined multiple-way valve of simple and sturdy constructo constitute an annular valve seat 32. Located tion wherein all the movable parts are enclosed within each of the valve chambers, there is a cap within the valve casing for protection against 33 formed with a. counterbore adapted to receive lo dust or grit and the deleterious effect thereof. a washer or valve 34 capable of engagement with Another object of this invention is to provide a the annular valve seat 32. This washer or valve multiple-way valve with a simple and efficient deis preferably made of resilient material such as vice capable of locking the valve actuating mechrubber to assure a fluid tight joint with the valve anism in various operating positions. seat 32, against which it is constantly urged 1. i..

Other objects andadvantages more or less`an the effort of a compression spring 35, having one cillary to the foregoing and the manner in whichl end seated on the cap 33 while the other end the various objects are attained, reside in the thereof is seated within a counterbore formed specific construction and aggroupment of the elewithin the plug 26. Mounted within each of ments peculiar to this structure, as will become the caps 33, there lis one end of a valve stem 36, 25 apparent from a more complete examination of while the other end of each of thfour stems this specification, in the claims of Which there extends `into an enlarged chamber 31 formed are assembled certain specific combinations of centrally within the upper portion of the housing parts and specific constructions indicative of the I5. To prevent the leakage of the fluid from the scope and spirit of the invention. l l chambers 21, 28, 29,'and 30 into the enlarged 3U In the drawings which illustrate a preferred chamber 31, each of the former is provided with l embodiment of the invention, a counterbore having a stuffing box 38 therein Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional View of the through which the valve stem 36 isyfree to slide. val've assembly, taken in aplane indicated by line The appurtenant parts of the stufling box are I--I in Fig. 2. l maintained in operative position relative the valve 35 Fig. 2 is across sectional View taken in a plane stem 36 by a plug 39 secured in screw tight engageindicated by line 2--2 in Fig. 1. 4 ment within the counterbore formed within the Fig. 3 -iS a CIOSS Sectional View taken in a-.Dlaile last Amentioned. chambers. Intermediate its ends. l indicated by line 3-3 in Fig. 1. the valve stem 36 is formed with an enlarged head 40 Fig. 4 is a diagrammati'cal view showing the 40 capable of abutting engagement with the 40 valves in one operative position. washer or Valve 34.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the lSlidably mounted within the enlarged cham- -valves in the other operative position. ber 31, there is a substantially rectangular block Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a 4I., The small end walls of the block engaging n modification of the locking mechanism shown in the internal wall ofthe enlarged chamber 31 4" Fig.- 3. 'are arcuated as at 42 to facilitate the slidable Fig. 7 is a cross sectional View taken in a plane movement of the block and prevent the possible indicated by line 1--1 in Fig. 6. binding of the latter within the enlarged cham- Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken ber 31. Accurately machined through the cenin a plane indicated by line 8 8 in Fig. 3. tral portion of the block '4I, there is an arched 50 Referring to the drawings in which like symbols slot 43 terminated by arcuated end portions 44 designate corresponding parts through the several and 45 of a radius identical -to that of the arch views, I5 represents the valve housing having 46, which is located in equidistant relation with bores or connections I1, I8, I9, and 20 which are the ends of the slot. The intersections of the adapted to receive the end of four conduits for' arch 46-v1ith the arcuated ends of the slot form 55 a duality of protuberances or edges 41 and 48, the purpose of which will be explained later. The enlarged chamber 31 is closed by a cover or cap 49 secured to the upper Wall of the housing. I5 by screws 50. ,This cap ls provided with a vertical sleeve 5| formed integral therewith in offset relation with the slot 43 of the block 4I. Rotatably mounted within the sleeve 5I, there is one arm 52 of a crank 53. This arm is provided with a square end portion 54 protruding from the sleeve 5| to receives. handle 55 secured thereto by a pin 56.' The other arm 5'.' of the crank 53 has rotatably mounted thereon a'roller 58 secured thereon against longitudinal movement by a pin 59. The roller 58 is adapted to it within the arcuated ends 44 and- 45,`

and the arch 46 of the slot 43 ina manner. and for the purpose which will be explained later.

Cored within the housing I5, there is a system of passages affording the communication of the connections I1, I8, I9, and 2U, with their respective chambers. To facilitate the explanation and understanding of the operation of the` present construction, these passages are shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein the circles I1, i8, I9, and 20 represent the connections shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the connection I1 is capable of communication with the valve chamber 23 through ya passage 60, and with the valve chamber 22 through a passage 6I.` The connection I8 is similarly capable of connection with the chamber 21 through a port or passage 62, and with the chamber 30 via a port 63. Referring to the connections I9 and 28, it will be seen that the former is capable of communication with the valve chamber 24 through a port 64', and with the chamber 28 through a port 65, while the connection 20 is in constant communication with the valve chamber 2| via a passage 66, and with the chamber 29 via. a passage 61.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the rectangular block 68 which is slidably mounted within the enlarged chamber 31, is provided with a longitudinally disposed groove 69, the side Walls 10 and 1I together with the bottom 12 thereof,lbeing arcuated to receive a roller 13. The intersections of the bot,- tom wall 12 with the side walls of the groove 1I forms a duality of edges 14 and 15 similar to the edges 41 and`48 shown in Fig. 2. The enlarg'ed chamber 31 is closed by a cap 16 which is secured to the upper wall of the valve housing by screws 11. Transversallydisposed through the cap 16, there is a rotatable shaft18 formed with a square portion 19 and adapted to receive a lever 88 locked thereon against relative rotation. VThis lever is terminated by an armJI located longitudinally within the groove 69, and

adapted to rotatably receive the roller 13 which;

\ in a vertical position is thus prevented. The

is locked thereon against longitudinal movement 18, the cap 16 is, formed with a dip 83 adapted to accommodate the socket end of a handle 84 secured to the shaft 18 by a pin 85. It will be seen that with the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '1, the handle 83 is positioned for rotation in a vertical plane, while in the construction shown in Fig. 3, the handle 50 is located for rotation in an horizontal plane.

In' the operation of the device, pressure fluid may be admitted from its source of supply in the connection I1, from where it is free to flow in the valve chambers 22 and 23. When the block 4| is positioned as shown in Fig. 2, that is in spaced relation with the end of the valve stems 36, the roller 58 is located within the arch 46. When it is desired to admit pressure fluid from the connection I1 into the connection 26 from where it may flow into a fluid actuated mech- 5 anism, the handle 55 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, thus causing -through the crank 53, the rotary movement of the arm 51 and 'roller 58 toward the left of the Figs. 4 and 5. The roller 58 engaging the internal wall of the l0 arch 46 will cause the slidable movement of the block 4| and` the consequential engagement of the latter with the stems 36 of the valves located in the valve chambers 23 and 24, for forcing the valves in said chambers away from their 15 respective seat or in open position. The pressure fluid previously `admitted into the inlet chamber 23 through the port 60 is now free to flow therefrom into the connection 20 via the enlarged port'SI, the chamber 29 and port 61. 20 Simultaneously,`the pressure fluid previously admitted into the connection I9 is free to exhaust therefrom via the port 64, the valve chamber 24, into the chamber 30 via the enlarged port 3|, from where it will flow into the connection 25 I8 through the port 63. The connection I8 is simply an exhaust port to which may be affixed a conduit lfor conveying the exhausting fluid away from the valve operator.

The lcombination of the block 4| slidably guided 3o within the enlarged chamber 31 together with the roller 58 which is mounted within the specially designed slot 43 and the crank 53, may be said to constitute a toggle mechanism by which the block 4I maybe moved and locked in oper. 35 ating position as shown in Fig. 8. In this in stance, the edge 41 oi the slot 43 is located substantially in a vertical plane passing through the center of the two arms 52 and 51 of the crank r53. However, -in practice it has been found advisable to machine the slot 43 in a manner causing the edge 41 to be located somewhat on the side of the vertical plane adjacent' the arch 46. the edge forming thereby a little hump cooperating with the roller 58 for assisting in the lock`- ing of the block 4I in operative position. When the] v block 4I is positioned as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8, the pressure of the valve stems 36 exerted on the block 4I due to the eiort of the compression springs 35 located within the chambers 23 and 50 24, will tend to shift the block 4I together with the roller 58 `in the vertical or inoperative position shown in Fig. 2. "I'he pivotal movement o f the roller 58 around the center axis of the crank arm 52 imparted thereto by the block 4I, would 55 obviously cause the transversal movement of the block 4I, and since this transversal movement is prevented by the engagement of the small ends 42 of the block with the inner wall of the enlarged chamber 31', the slidable movement ot the block 4I 60 pressure of the valve stems on the block 4I tending to shift the latter in a neutral position, actually causes the block 4I to be locked in operative position. 65

When it is desired to close the valves within the chambers 23 and 24, the block 4I may be shifted in the'position shown in Fig. 2 by simply rotating the handle 55 in a counterclockwise direction. In this instance, the pivotal movement 70 imparted to the roller 58 by the crank 53 causes the former to be moved out of the arcuated end 45 of the slot 43, while the block 4l is slid in a corresponding direction by the action of the spring pressed valve stems II thereon. After 'tion shown in Fig. 2.

the roller has passed over the edge 41 and is in engagement with the side wall ot the arch 4| within which it is finally located, the roller together with its appurtenant parts, is moved by the block 4| in the neutral or inoperative posi- When it is desired to admit the pressure fluid from the inlet connection Il into the connection I9. the valve handle may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction.- thus causing the slidable movement of the block 4I from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the consequential opening of the valves 34 located in the chambers 2 I, and 22. The pressure uid previously admitted from the connection I'I into the chamber 22 through the port 5I, is now free to ow into the connection I9, v ia the enlarged aperture 3|, the chamber, and port 65. Simultaneously. the pressure fluid previouslyV admitted in the connection 20, is now free to ilow into the exhaust port or connection Il via the port 6B, chamber l2|, enlarged aperture 3|.-chamber 21 and port 62. The block 4I is locked in the position shown in Fig.' 5 in the manner previously explained,regarding its position shown in Figs. 4 and 8, and it may again be shifted in a neutral position bysimply rotating the handle 55 in a clockwise direction.

It is to be understood that to the connections I 9 and 20 may be ailixed individual conduits capable yof conveying the pressure fluid to a iiuid actuated mechanism. Assuming this mechanism to comprise a cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein, the pressure iluid may be admitted on one side of the piston through' lthe connection I9, while the pressure fluid from the other side o f the piston is free to exhaust through the connection 20. It will be noted thatwhen two of the four valves 34 are in open position, the other two are subjected to th action of the pressure uid together with the action of the' compression spring thereon for assuring a uid tight engagementof the valves with their respective seats.

The operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7 being identical to that .previously described, no further explanation is thought necessary other than directing the attention to the fact that in this modied construction, the handle 84 is rotatable in a vertical plane, while the handle 55 is rotatable in a horizontal plane.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order to completely set forth the invention, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or conilning and it is to be fur-l ther understood that various rearrangements of parts and modification of Astructural detail may be'resortd toI without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In a. valve mechanism, the combination of a casing, enclosing two vpairs of valves slidably mounted therein, all ofl said valves being located" 3 lp airs ofvalve members movable to open or closed positions relative to said passages, means exerting pressure on each of said valve members for constantly urging the latter toward a closed position, an element movable within said casing slidable bev tween said pairs of valve members and capable of alternative engagement with one or the other pair thereof for shifting it to an open position, and means associated with said element for locking the latter against slidable movement at substantially each endof the movement thereof, thereby causing the valve members in engagement therewith to be heldin open position. f f

3. In a valve, the combination of a casing having a passage therein, a valve member movable within said casing to open or closed position relative to said passage, means associatedwith said valve member for constantly urging the latter toward a closed position, a mechanism for shifting and holding said valve member in an open position, saidmechanism comprising an element slidably guided within said casing and engageable with said valve member, a pivotally movable member having a roller carried thereby for movement therewith, and a slot within said element having an arched surface with which said roller is capable of frictional engagement for slidingand locking said element in one position, causing thereby said valve member to be shifted and maintained in an open position.

4.` In a valve mechanism, the combination of a housing having passages therein, a duality of valve members within said housing movable in open or closed position, means constantly exerting pressure on said valve members `for normally maintaining the same in closed position relative to said passages, an element within said housing slidable between said valve members and capable of al- \ternative engagement therewith for4 shifting and maintaining the same in open position, and locking means associated with said element for maintaining the latter at substantially either end of its slidable movement for holding one or the other of said valve members in open position, the operation of said locking means depending upon the pressure constantly exerted on the valve member engaged by said element.

5. In a valve mechanism, the combination of a casing having passages therein and enclosing two pairs of valve members movable to open or closed position relative to said passages, means exerting pressure on each of said valve members for constantly urging the latter toward a closed position, an element within said casing slidable between said pairsl of valve members andl capable of alternative engagements with`on or the other pair thereof for shifting it to open position, a handle exteriorly of said casing, a connection between said handle and element whereby slidable movement is imparted to the latter upon rotation of the former, and means included in said connection i or locking said element against slidable movement at substantially each end of the travel thereof, causing thereby the valve members in engagement therewith to be held in open position.

6. In a valve mechanism, the combination of av casing having a, passage-therein, a valve mem- /ber movable within said casing to open or closed position relative to said passage, means associated with said valve member for constantly urging the latter toward a closed position, a mechanism for shifting-and holding said member to an open position `ncluding an element slidable within said casing and engageable with said valve crank arm connection between said-handle andA element whereby slidable movement is imparted to the latter upon rotation of said handle, and

means responsive to the engagement of said crank arm with said element for locking the lata casing having a passage therein, a valve member movable within said casing to open or closed position relative to said passage, means associated with said valve member for constantly urging the latter toward closed position, a mechanism for shifting and holding said valve member to an open position including an element slidable within said casing and engageable with said valve member, a handle exteriorly of said casing, a crank arm connection between said handle and element whereby slidable movement is imparted to the latter upon rotation of said handle, a slot within said element wherein one end of said crank arm is capable of travel while imparting slidablev movement to said element, said slot arranged and disposed in a manner preventing the'travel 'aforesaid at a predetermined position of said element, causing thereby the latter to be locked in a positionl resulting in the opening of said valve member.

8. In a valve mechanism, the combination of a casing having passages therein, a duality of valve members movable within said casing to open or closed position relative to said passages, means associated with said valve members for normally vmaintaining the same in closed psition relative to said passages, an element within said casing slidable between said valve members and capable of alternative engagement therewith for shifting the same to open position, a rotatable handle exteriorly of said casing, and a movement transforming device sealed within said casing including connecting means between said handle and element whereby slidable movement is imparted to said element upon lrotation of said handle. I

9. In a valve mechanism, the combination of a casing enclosing twosets of valve members slidable within a single plane with one set disposed in opposition lto the other set thereof, an individual valve seat for each of said valve members,

means associated with each valve member for normally maintaining it in forcible engagement with its respective valve seat, and means including an element enclosed within said casing for slidable movement between said" sets of valve members whereby each set may alternatively be shifted and maintained away from the valve seats of its respective valve members.

10. In a valve mechanism, the combination of a casing having passages therein and enclosing two sets of valve members movable to open'or closed positions relative to said passages, means exerting pressure on each of said valve members for constantly urging th'e latter toward a closed position, an element within said casing slidable between said sets of valve members and engageable with one or the other sets thereof for shifting the same to an open position, and means operatively associated with said element holding the 

